Shock-absorbing apparatus.



W. H. SON. SHOCK ABSORBING APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR.30,1906.

912,749. Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

ICC C l WITNESSES INVENTOR MW I 4 M WILLIAM H. SON, WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA.

' SHOGK-A'BSORBING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

Application filed March 30, 1906. Serial No. 308,947.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. Son, of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Shock-Absorbing Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the-accom anying drawings, forming part of this s cc catlon, in which,-

Figure 1 is a front e ovation of a leaf spring constructed in accordance with my invention, the body of an automobile being shown in dotted 'lines to indicate the mode of mounting the spring on the axle and the body on the spring; Fig. 2 is a detail view on an enlarged scale showing the s ring of Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. 2 showing other forms of my invention; and Figsr5 and-6 are-top plan views showing furthe: forms ofthe invention.-

The object of myinvention is to providemeansforabsorbing or cushioning the recoil:

of s rings, particularly vehicle springs, such a as t ose used on automobiles, wagons, etc.

' the weight of the compression is removed,

It is a well-known fact that springs which are desi ed to carry a certain load act more efiicient y when carrying a full load than when under the burden of only a partial load. To obviate this .difiiculty, I have pro.- vided a leaf sprin or springs, whereby the op osing force w "ch counteracts or absol bs the recoil of the spring or springs may be arranged to-exert a downward force-or pressure in a direction opposite to that of the main springs on their recoil when the s rings are at rest or in their-normal position.

e added leaf spring or springs may be arranged to give an desired amount of downward pressure. y this arrangement the main spring is graduall relieved of the load which it carries throug the pressure of the supplemental spring during its downward movement, and the supplemental leaf spring or springs begin to resist the recoil movement of the main springs before they have returned to their normal osition, and the resistance offered constant y increases until the.recoil is entirely absorbed, and this I am able to accomplish without any substantial increase in wei ht. With the opposing pressure-obtained y-my- -invention, the supplemental. spring assists-in the compression of the;main spri'n until themain spring has been com-presse to a certain point, and when the supplemental spring offers a gradually increasing resistance and opposing force which assists the main spring in absorbing the recoil action and dam ens or cushions the recoil in an effective andbflicient manner without subjecting the main spring to any undue strain.

In the drawings, referring to the form of Figs. 1 and 2, 2 represents the main spring which I have shown as of the ordinary variety having a series of leaves of different lengths, the longer leaf having the eyes 3, 3 at its ends. In this form 4 represents m supplemental spring which in this case is placed below the main s ring, and also consisting of a series of leaves of diiferent lengths, the longer leaf having and eyes 5, 5.

The supplemental spring 4 is rovided with k connections 6 whic takearound.

loopor the end portions of the main sprinlg, exert a. downward, ull thereon. shown the leavesof 0th sets of springs as connected at the center by the bolt 7.

In F 1, I show one manner of employing the spring of Fig. 2, the automobile body being indicated in dotted lines. In this .case, when the automobile is driven over a portion of the road which causes a down.- ward movement of the body, the ends of the main spring will be de ressed and afterthe main spring has passe downward until the supplemental springs 4 cease to exert a downward pull thereon, the further depres sion of the mainspringwill force the supplemental spring 4 downward through the links 6, and the supplemental spring will assist the main spring in carrying the load. On the upward movement of the main spring, the supplemental spring will follow it until a point is reached where the sup lemental spring begins to be compressed in the opposite direction, from which point upwar it will continue to ofier a constantly resisting force whichassists the main spring in absorbin 'or cushioning the recoil. This not only ma es the vehicle more easy riding, but revents breaking of s rings and reduces shoc s and jars on the ve icle.

In Fig. 3, I show a form similar to that of Figs. 1 and; 2, except that a supplemental leaf 9- is placed on the top. of t e. leaves of the main s ring, this leaf being under. tensio'n when rawn to. lace, and assisting the other supplementa spring leaves 4 have . in cushioning the recoil. Parts similar to Fig.

2 are designated by a similar numberwith the letter 0 applied. a

In Fig. 4, I show the auxiliary spring as consisting of two oppositely bowed springs 10 and 11. Qneof these springs may have upwardly bent ends 12, 12, inclosing the ends of the. other leaf, and the supplemental spring can be secured to the main spring by links such as shown at 13 or by hinges, rivets or other devices. a

The supplemental spring or s rings may also be placed at the side orsilles of the main spring member or members; thus in Fig. 5, 2 represents the main spring, while 4 are the supplemental springs placed on opposite sides of the main spring and connected thereto in such a Way as to exert downward pressurethrough at least a part of the return stroke of the main spring.

In Fig. 6, I show a form similar to that of Fig. 5, except that the main spring 2 is provided with only a single supplemental spring 4 which exerts the downward or opposin pressure through a part or all of the recoi stroke of the main spring.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. s iarp recoils of leaf springs on vehicles are prevented and dampened down in a cheap, simple and eiiicient manner, and the main spring is relieved from excessive recoil strains which are likely to break or injure it. The spring is provided with a certain load in its normal or neutral position, from which it. is gradually relieved as it is compressed in its downward movement,-and the opposing spring force which assists in absorbing the recoil shock is continuous through either all of the upward stroke or through'that portion thereof which subjects the main s rin to the greatest strai according to t e 0 aracter of the auxiliary spring and its con' nections.

Changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the main and supplemental springs without departing from my invention.

1. A vehicle spring comprising a normally active main spring, a supplemental spring, and means connecting the springs whereby the supplemental spring normally exerts a downward tension on the main spring when the vehicle is unloaded to resist recoil of the main spring substantially as described.- I

2. A vehicle spring comprising a normally active main leaf spring, a supplemental leaf spring, and means connecting the ends of the supplemental leaf spring to the main spring whereby the supplemental spring normally exerts a downward tension on the main spring when the vehicle is unloaded substantially as described.

3. A vehicle s ring comprising a normally active main lea spring, a supplemental leaf Thespring, and means connecting the ends of the supplemental spring to the respective end portions of the main spring for normallyexerting a downward tension on the main spring when the vehicle is unloaded to resist the recoil of the main sprin the connection permitting and the springs aving a relation whereby the supplemental spring is capable of coming successively to a condition of inaction and then to a condition of supplementing the supporting action of the main spring substantially as described.

' 4. The combination with a main spring of the leaf or. layer type, of a supplemental double-acting spring also of the leaf or layer type, said supplemental spring being shorter than the main spring and secured thereto at the center with its spaced apart ends connected to the main spring by loose links, the supplemental spring imparting an initial load to the main spring and reducing its load during the downward movement of the main spring, but assisting the main spring beyond a certain downward movement, and opposing the upwardly recoil movement of the unain spring; substantially as described.

5. A vehicle spring comprising a main spring normally under tension by the weight of the unloaded vehicle, and a supplemental spring normally'exerting a downward tension on the main spring when the vehicle is unloaded to resist recoil of the main spring,

substantially as described.

6. A vehicle spring comprising a main spring normally under tension by the weight of the unloaded vehicle, and a supplemental spring normally exerting a downward tension on the main spring when the vehicle is unloaded to resist recoil of the main spring and capable of coming successively to a condition of inaction and then to a condition of supplementing the supporting action of the main spring, substantially as described.

7. A vehicle spring comprising a main leaf spring having its ends connected to a vehicle and normally under tension by-the weight of the unloaded vehicle, and a supplemental leaf spring having its ends connecteddirectly to and normally exerting a downward .tension upon the main spring when the vehicle is unloaded to resist recoil of the main spring, substantially as described.

a 8. A vehicle spring comprising a main leaf spring having its ends connected to a vehicle and normallyunder tension by the weight of the unloaded vehicle, and a supplemental leaf spring having its ends connected directly to the main spring and normally exerting a downward tension on the main spring when the vehicle is unloaded to resist recoil of the main spring and capable of coming successively to a condition of inaction and then to a condition of su plementing the main spring, substantia y as described.

9. A vehicle spring comprising a main tension thereon when the vehicle is unloaded 19- bowed leaf spring havin its convexed side to resist recoil of the main spring, substandownward with its en s connected to a tially as described. vehicle and normally under tension by the In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 5 weight of the unloaded vehicle, and a supmy hand.

plemental bowed leaf spring beneath the WILLIAM H. SON.

. main spring with its convex side downward I Witnesses:

andits ends connected directly to the main E. J. ROTH, spring and normally exerting a downward JOHN W. SON, Jr. 

